constitutional government and national unity could only be achieved on their terms
Austria had no wish
2 of 12
Background
lacked real muscle
no financial power
no army
3 of 12
Background
lacked real muscle
no financial power
no army
4 of 12
Divisions
seriously divided
minority wanted no princes and a republic
majority of liberals wanted a moderate settlement to safeguard the rights of individual states and government with minimum social change
small conservative group wanted to preserve rights of individual states
large numbers of independent, politically uncommitted members
5 of 12
Frederick William I
refused to accept crown if not offered by German princes
lost Prussia's support
movement for political reform had lost it's impetus and the German princes and Austrian emperor were able to regain control of politics in their territories
6 of 12
Lack of military power
only army capable of acting as a National army was the Prussian on
Minister of war appointed (Prussian General)
tried to persuade rulers of Bavaria dn Austria to join with Prussia if they needed a German army but failed
without an army loyal to it, the authority of the Frankfurt Parliament remained theory rather than fact
7 of 12
Lack of popular support
not in tune with the views of a large segment of the working class
German artisans established own assemblies
delegates were mainly liberal
industrial code (regulating hours of work and rates of pay) was rejected
lots of workers lost faith in the Frankfurt Parliament
8 of 12
Members
members were impractical idealists who wasted valuable time discussing the fundamental rights of the German people
never a real possibility of creating a unified German nation
argued over Grossdeutschland and Kleindeutschland
dependent of the willing cooperation of its individual states, parliament lacked power to enforce its decrees
9 of 12
Other problems
handicapped by unwise choice of leader, Heinrich Gagern
liberal, sincere and well meaning but without the force of character needed to dominate the assembly
Schleswig-Holstein showed weakness
10 of 12
Rejection
Frederick William refused crown of Prussia
rulers of Bavaria, Saxony and Hanover rejected German constitution
Parliament driven out of Frankfurt by the city government and ended
11 of 12
The radical challenge
demand for widespread political and social refor,
radicals within and outside parliament
formed a national democratic and republican movement
radical mob in 1848 at second democratic congress pronounced the Frankfurt parliament illegitimate and demanded new elections
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